Global Concrete News

Spain: Topcret has added to two new products to its decorative microcement coatings range. BabaxEco and EcoCemento both comprise cement, fine sand, polymers and pigments. Topcret was the first microcement coatings producer to obtain environmental product declarations (EPDs) for its products.

US: Block-Lite plans to install a system to cure concrete blocks using direct air capture (DAC)-sourced CO₂ at its Flagstaff, Arizona, concrete block plant. The upgrade will implement CarbonBuilt’s low-CO₂ concrete production technology and AirCapture’s modular DAC technology, across five or six capture units. Direct air capture will thus remove 500 – 600t/yr of CO₂ from the atmosphere, while process changes will reduce CO₂ emissions from the Flagstaff plant by over 2000t/yr. The project has attracted fundraising from the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition (4CCC), with a goal of US$50,000. The Arizon Daily Sun newspaper has reported that Block-Lite plans to supply its first shipment of low-CO₂ blocks to a 50-home development by Habitat for Humanity in Flagstaff.

Tajikistan: Shimsho has commissioned its new 15,500t/yr Darvoz dry construction mixes plant in Durobak. The government of Tajikistan says that the plant is equipped with Chinese technology, and uses locally mined calcite, cement, lime and gypsum in its dry construction mixes production. It will sell the mixes in 20, 25 and 30kg bags. It will directly employ 25 local people.

Colombia: Cemento País expects to commission its upcoming Aguas Prietas grinding plant in Turbaco, Bolívar, soon. The plant will have a capacity of 0.48t/yr, and cost US$20m in total. ESEuro News has reported that investors in Cemento País include engineering and construction firm AGM Desarrollos. The owners expect to corner a 15% share in Colombia’s Atlantic Coast cement market. The Aguas Prietas grinding plant will also produce 300,000m³/yr of ready-mix concrete.

India: Nuvoco Vistas has commissioned a new 60m³/hr ready-mix concrete batching plant in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The company says that it aims to grow its concrete footprint in the growing Southern Indian market. It operates one other batching plant in Tamil Nadu, located at Chennai.

Nuvoco Vistas’ head of ready-mix concrete and modern building materials Prashant Jha said "We are delighted to launch our new ready-mix plant in Coimbatore, which is a growing market and a strategic location for us. The plant's proximity to our customers highlights our customer-centric approach, and we are committed to providing them with best-in-class products and services. Our ready-mix product portfolio includes Concreto performance concrete, Artiste decorative concrete and Ecodure green concrete, which are all designed to meet the diverse needs of our customers and promote sustainable construction practices."